Acupuncture and Women's Health

By Dr. Angel Wood, DACM, LAc

Eastern Medical Holistic Healing Center

. http://www.angelofcolonics.com

More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles

Acupuncture and Women's Health

Acupuncture and Fertility

Acupuncture has been successfully used to treat fertility for more than 2,000 years. By harmonizing the body's energy system using ancient acupuncture techniques, the whole woman's body can be supported to unlock her unlimited healing potential.

Numerous research studies have demonstrated that receiving acupuncture for fertility dramatically increases the changes of becoming pregnant and helps to prevent miscarriage. Acupuncture for fertility is especially successful when combined with traditional Western fertility treatments such as medications and IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).

Studies have shown that acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus, which can improve the changes of implanting an ovum on the uterus wall. Acupuncture can reduce overall stress levels, and normalize the hormone and endocrine systems to further support a successful childbirth. Acupuncture has been proven to help regulate the menstrual cycle and to positively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.

Acupuncture provides a safe and natural approach to enhancing fertility. Fertility acupuncture is not a quick fix, and is generally sold in packages of 10 sessions at a time.

Acupuncture and Menopause

Menopause is a natural physiological cycle that occurs in all women. Because conventional medicine often does not take into account the body's energy system, it tends to treat only the signs and symptoms of menopause while the underlying disharmony remains.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) understand that the signs and symptoms of menopause are merely indications of an imbalance drop within the body. If these imbalances are left unchecked, a wide variety of symptoms, called menopause, can develop. Because they restore balance and harmony to the energy system, acupuncture and TCM offer very effective treatment modalities for menopause.

Hot flashes, poor sleep, dream disturbances, irritability, night sweating, and dryness are all possible symptoms of menopause. Your acupuncturist will conduct a thorough evaluation and complete health history upon your first visit. This information will help to “paint a picture” and formulate your TCM diagnosis.

As we age the energy systems can require additional support to maintain healthy functioning. Nutrition changes, herbal remedies, and lifestyle changes can also be part of the solution. Acupuncture and TCM are very effective for treating all types of menopause.